Plant compound berberine may have future role in autoimmune disease treatment

Berberine, a natural compound already used in traditional Chinese medicine, may have some benefits for people with autoimmune disease, says a new review of the evidence.

A bitter-tasting and yellow-coloured chemical, berberine is found in European barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape and tree turmeric.

The team that looked at how it treats rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions says that “berberine was shown to be effective and safe for treatment of autoimmune diseases”.

One issue is that berberine’s absorption into the body from the intestine isn’t very efficient. So a special nanoparticle system has been developed to counter this, which should increase its efficacy.

Berberine is generally considered safe when used in appropriate doses. However, it may interact with certain medications and can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort, which is why you should check with a healthcare professional before taking supplements.

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